Fight or flight? What’s your natural response when you face opposition? If your faith came under fire, would you stand your ground? For Muslih*, a secret believer in Algeria, following Jesus is a daily battle, but retreating is not an option. "When you are in a war, when you run, you turn your back on the enemy and they shoot you," he says. "We’re in a battle and it’s better to... Čítaj ďalej o NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER: LIVING COURAGEOUSLY FOR JESUS IN ALGERIA »

Aizah faced extreme violence and rejection from her family when she gave her life to Jesus. As a woman, she was doubly vulnerable to persecution. Yet today Aizah has overcome all this to become an inspiring leader in her own right, providing protection, support and encouragement to other women like her. Aizah made a dangerous decision when she gave her life to Christ. Scared that her... Čítaj ďalej o AIZAH’S STORY: “WHEN I BECAME A CHRISTIAN, DAD THREATENED TO KILL ME” »

Shalet Javet testified to Lahore High Court against her captor. She is ready "to do it again and again until he is jailed". The 15 year old was used as a sex slave. "It is not true that I converted to Islam by my own choice," she says bravely. Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Shalet Javed, the 15-year-old Christian girl kidnapped, sold and given in marriage to a... Čítaj ďalej o Christian girl kidnapped, raped and forcibly converted is freed »

04/04/2019 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – Slamet Sumiarto, a Catholic artist and his family, became the latest victim of religious intolerance in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta region. According to Asia News, the artist recently moved his family to Karet, a village in Pleret sub-district (Bantul Regency), but the local chief and residents unwelcomed their presence and... Čítaj ďalej o Indonesian Catholic Family Expelled from Muslim Community »

Educational authorities in the Chinese district of Lishan have initiated a push to eliminate religious belief in Kindergarten, requiring students to sign a statement saying they will “advocate science, promote atheism, and oppose theism.” The commitment also requires the pupils to pledge they will not view religious websites or engage in religious forums online, according to a report by... Čítaj ďalej o China: Kindergartenkidsforced to sign atheist declaration »

U.S. President Barack Obama visited Kenya and Ethiopia 24-28 July, partly to discuss regional security. In Kenya especially, Christians have been targeted by the violent al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab. In the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on 28 July, making an American president’s first speech to the African Union, Obama said “Many of these groups claim the banner of religion, but... Čítaj ďalej o A convert’s story »

Growing up in North Korea, Seojun’s* focus was on survival. As well as his schooling, he had to work the land and sell herbs to try to make ends meet. He recalls roaming the countryside for vegetables, seeking food on the mountainside, often going hungry. That feeling of hunger - and the anxiety of possible starvation - haunted his early years. "I had a very difficult time," he... Čítaj ďalej o SEOJUN* FROM NORTH KOREA: 'GOD IS WORKING NOW THROUGH YOUR PRAYER AND SUPPORT' »

02/01/2019 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – “ It was very difficult and painful as several new believers were beaten up so badly, ” Pastor Ajay Ravi told International Christian Concern (ICC). “ But I consider this a privilege to suffer for Jesus and believe God will turn this into a testimony of endurance and His faithfulness. ” Pastor Ravi bravely... Čítaj ďalej o Small Church in India Transcends Persecution to Declare the Gospel »

Members of the United Front, police, representatives of the Religious Affairs Bureau entered the churches while Mass was being celebrated, interrupted the liturgical services, chased the faithful away, threatened them and decreed the closure of the communities. Msgr. Wei Jingyi, the bishop of Qiqihar, despite being underground, has good relations with the government. The suppression occurred after the signing of the China-Holy See Agreement. Čítaj ďalej o Seven churches and communities suppressed in Qiqihar diocese »

In the Iranian revolution of 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah of Iran More Muslims have come to faith in Christ in this generation than in the last fourteen centuries of Islam combined. The Church in Iran is now estimated to be between 1 million and 3 million strong. That’s the analysis of Shadi Fatehi from the PARS Theological Center in London, England,... Čítaj ďalej o Iran: Dreams & visions fueling unprecedented church growth »

“I am so afraid that my parents will find out. My father would kill me.” These are the words of Nadeen*, a young secret believer from Morocco. When she says her father would kill her if he found out about her hidden faith, that isn’t just a turn of phrase. She’s being deadly serious. Nadeen is a 21-year-old student from a Muslim family, who came to faith after meeting another... Čítaj ďalej o MY FATHER WOULD KILL ME' - SECRETLY FOLLOWING JESUS IN MOROCCO »

It was the first time the leader of North Korea and the leader of South Korea had met in over a decade, and the food they ate together was full of symbolism. There were dishes from the two leaders’ childhoods, noodles specially imported from Pyongyang, and the mango mousse even had a map of a united Korea on it. But this meal is something that ordinary North Koreans can only dream about.... Čítaj ďalej o NORTH KOREA'S FOOD FIGHT: EMPTY STOMACHS AND FULL HEARTS »

A Pakistani court last week sentenced two Christian brothers to death for blasphemy. Since their arrest in 2014, Qaisar and Amoon Ayub had been held in District Jail Jhelum, in Punjab province, 200 km north of Lahore, for allegedly posting “disrespectful material” on their website, according to AsiaNews . For security reasons the two were kept in prison for the 13 December... Čítaj ďalej o Two Pakistani Christian brothers sentenced to death for blasphemy »

Egypt’s Copts are still reeling from a second bus attack in two years on the desert road to a monastery in Minya and asking why there was no protection for them. It should have been a joyful day. On Friday 2 November a Coptic family had celebrated the baptisms of two little boys, four-month-old Emile and 5-month-old Noufir, which had taken place in the... Čítaj ďalej o Egypt bus attack survivors ask ‘how could this happen again? »

Gurunath In chapter 13 of The Last Words of the Martyrs , I introduce you to Gurunath. He is serving a life sentence, but William, one of ICC's regional managers, met him when he was temporarily released from prison because his father was dying. So when you meet a man whose life has ended for all... Čítaj ďalej o Seeking the Living Water this Thanksgiving »

A 25-year-old believer from a Muslim background from Kyrgyzstan has been beaten for refusing to deny his faith in Jesus. Eldos Satar Uluu was home alone when three men broke into his house. "They began hitting him and kicking him until he fell on the floor. They shouted at him that he is a ‘kafir’ (infidel), and that he had betrayed Islam. Then they kicked his head while on the floor,... Čítaj ďalej o 25-YEAR-OLD BELIEVER FROM KYRGYZSTAN BEATEN FOR REFUSING TO DENY HIS FAITH »

Imagine being told that if you go to church, you could die. Would you dare to go? This was the situation facing a group of Christians one Easter in Pakistan. The Taliban, the self-proclaimed Islamic State and other Islamic extremist groups had sent out warnings that Christians would suffer during Easter. The Christians knew they were serious – church bombings have become horrifically... Čítaj ďalej o LIGHTS IN THE DARKNESS: THE COURAGEOUS FAITH OF THE CHURCH IN PAKISTAN »